8
RUSSIA - FRANCE
M
s Bermann, you are the
Ambassador of France in
Russia. How did you feel when
you took up your post in Russia? Did
you already know the country?
I already knew Russia before I was
appointed as ambassador. From 1986
to 1989, I was stationed in Moscow as
a young diplomat. Even though it was
a different country then, the Soviet
Union during Perestroika, my first
experience there helps me a lot in my
work today. I was very glad about this
posting and it was great for me to
rediscover Moscow, which has been
totally transformed. Today, it is a
lively city that really looks like a
European capital. It is pleasant to live
in and has a rich cultural life.
French people know little about the
Russia of today, except perhaps Saint
Petersburg. The Football World Cup,
which we had the joy of winning, was
the opportunity for Russians and
foreign visitors, who might not other-
wise have come here, to meet and
dispel a certain number of negative
stereotypes and sometimes even
fears. I travel a lot in this huge country
to establish links, because the
regions are also important from
economic and other perspectives.
Russia is a huge market, in which
French companies are very present.
What is your analysis of this economic
context, with what new opportunities
for scientific and technical coopera-
tion, for example? I am especially
thinking of the relations that were
established in 2018 between the French
Academy of Sciences, of which Cathe-
rine Bréchignac is the permanent
secretary, and the Academy of
Sciences of Russia.
Today, growth forecasts for Russia
are at around 1.5% to 2% for the next
three years, which is relatively
modest. But this is only a general
average, as certain sectors are likely
to grow much faster. Even in a not
very dynamic environment, an inno-
vative or quite simply new product or
service that is on sale in the Russian
market can meet sustained demand.
The greatest number of new opportu-
nities are clearly in agriculture,
agri-food, car manufacturing, phar-
maceuticals, chemicals and plastics
and health. Our cooperation in the
space field is rich and will continue to
grow in the future.
France and Russia, which are two
nations with long scientific traditions,
also benefit from strong cooperation
that has enabled the emergence of
many scientific projects and more
than twenty joint research organizations.
This rich and dynamic cooperation
has constantly been strengthened
and is seen in the more than 2,000
joint publications per year, consoli-
dating the position of France as
Russia’s preferred partner. French
and Russian scientists cooperate in
every field, especially in mathematics,
physics and chemistry, but also in life
sciences, information technologies,
quantum communications and artificial
intelligence.
Our ties with Russia have always
been marked by a remarkable reci-
procity of scientific exchanges and
mutual trust. As an example, the
French National Centre for Scientific
Research (CNRS) is by far the leading
foreign scientific partner in Russia,
where it has 17 units and joint
research laboratories as well as
other activities. There are precious
scientific ties between the two
Academies of Sciences in different
sectors. The signature of the memo-
randum of understanding during the
visit of President Emmanuel Macron
to Saint Petersburg in May 2018, will
strengthen still further the strong
interaction that was already seen
in April 2018, when Catherine
Bréchignac, the permanent secretary
of the French Academy of Sciences,
presented its Academic Palms to
Alexander Sergeev, the President of
the Academy of Sciences of Russia.
The roadmap for the two ministries in
charge of research, which was signed
in Saint Petersburg during the French
President’s visit, gives scientists from
our two countries the institutional
framework they need to develop
scientific projects and opens the way
to a new decade of cooperation in
higher education, research and
innovation.
What advice would you give to French
companies that do business in Russia
about major contracts?
There are two essential recommen-
dations for major contracts: a local
presence and a joint offer with a
Russian partner. A local presence is
often a criterion for choice, especially
for major public contracts, because it
is a major political goal for the
government. It leads to a certain
number of tax and customs benefits
and enables the awarding of subsi-
dies. It can also foster economic
goals, such as the reduction of
foreign exchange risks, access to
lower production costs and greater
closeness to customers.
A joint offer of products or services
with a Russian partner is essential:
France’s goals are to not let Russia become isolated fromtheWesternworld, especially
fromEurope, andmaintain dialogue. France is amajor political and economic partner
for Russia.
S.E. Sylvie BERMANN,
the Ambassador of France in Russia
©DR
Russia and France foster
strong cooperation
